Means for effecting noiseless discharge of guns.



fNo. 692,819.

J. E. BlSSELLf Patented FebQII I902. v

MEANS FOR EFFECTING NOISELESS DISCHARGE 0F GUNS.

'(No Model.)

(Application filed Apr. 21, 1900. Bonewedjuly 9,.1 901.)

Atty.

end of the piston-chamber.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH E. BISSELL, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID G.

IiNITTEL, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR EFF ECTING NOISELES S DISCHARGE OF GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,819, dated Februaryll, 1902.

Application filed April 21, 190i Renewed July 9, 1901. Serial No 67 689. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E; BISSELL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania have invented or discoveredcertain new hnd useful Improvements in Means for Elfecting the NoiselessDischa'rge of Guns, of which improvements the following is a specification;

The invention described herein relates tocertain improvements in guns, and has for'its object a construction or arrangement whereby the sudden expansion of the gases at the muzzle of the gun is prevented, thereby insuring a 1101561658 discharge.

. In general terms the invention consists in the interposition of a movable body or piston between the explosive and the projectile, such body or piston also serving to prevent or retard the escape of the gases, and thereby avoid the violent and sudden displacement of air.

The invention is hereinafter'more fully de-' scribed and claimed. 1 p

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a View, partly'in section and partly in elevation, of a gun and cartridge illustrative of my invention; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the barreland cartridge.

In the practice of my invention the barrel 1 is constructed so as to provide a piston-chamber 2 at its-rear end, the dimensions of such chamber being dependent upon the length and caliber of the barrel beyond such chamber. The explosive'material, which may beof any desired character, is preferably contained in a shell, as is customary, said shell being constructed to fit tightly in the rear A piston 3 is arranged in the chamber 2 in front. of the explosive material, and the projectile 4 is placed in the barrel 1. Outward movement is communicated to. the projectile from the piston by a non-compressible medium, which may be formed by a liquid, such as water, interposed between the projectile and piston, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When using the liquid-transmitter, the piston-chamber is .made of such a size as to contain in addition to the pistonsand explosive material sufiicient liquid to at least fill the barrel 1, so that the projectile will be sub-' jected constantly to a propulsive force until it passes from the barrel.

A desirablemanner of practicing my invention consists, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in forming the piston chamber or cylinder ot a" shell ,6, constructed as shown, to fit within the chamber 2'and to contain the explosive 6o material, the piston, liquid-transmitter, and the projectile. This cartridge can be prepared so that the loading of the gun is accom'plished in the usual manner. The liquid while in the cartridge will serve as a packing to prevent'the escape of gases generated by the combustion of the explosive. The escape of gases after the piston has reached the end of its traverse is controlled by a teat 9 on the piston. This is made sufficiently long to'pro- 7o ject when the piston is in its front position I into the barrel and is made of such external diameter as to closely, but not tightly, fit the bore of, the barrel or the contracted end of the shell 6, and thereby permit a slow flow of gases through the barrel. 7

As the liquid which is used as a transmitter between the explosive charge and the projectile is non-compressible, there will not be any sudden explosion and consequent explosivenoise when the liquid leaves the gun.

I claim herein as my invention-#- 1. As a means for eflecting the noiseless discharge-of guns, the,combination ofan explosive material, a projectile, a piston interposed between the explosive material and the projectile, means for preventing the escape of gases from the muzzle of the gun, and a liquid-transmitter interposed between the piston and the projectile, substantially as set forth.

2. As a means for effecting the noiseless discharge of guns, the combination" of a piston chamber or shell, an explosive material at one end of the shell and projectile at, the opposite end of the shell, a piston, means for preventing the escape of gases from the muz-- zle of the'gun, and a liquid-transmitter interposed between the explosive material and the projectile, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH E. BISSELL.

Witnesses:

. DARWIN S. WoLco'rT, F. GAITHER. 

